Professional Practice
Sustainable Residential Design: Improving Water Management
This project implements the first graywater reuse system for residential application in the region. It is intended to reduce water consumption by approximately 40 percent. Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ 2010 Professional Residential Design Honor Award. Catalina Foothills, Tucson, Arizona / D. A. Horchner / Design Workshop, Inc. Any residential landscape can be designed to both reduce flooding during storms and conserve water in times of water scarcity. Homeowners can use green infrastructure approaches, like bioswales and bioretention ponds; rain gardens; rain water harvesting; water recycling; and drip irrigation to more sustainably manage water.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates flooding has caused some $260 billion in damages from 1980 to 2013. And in the past decade, flood insurance claims now total $1.6 billion annually, putting further pressure on the already . Sustainable landscape architecture practices -- including green infrastructure -- can significantly reduce the impacts of flooding on residences.
Homeowners waste water by irrigating their lawns with water that should be reserved for human consumption. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nearly 9 billion gallons of water is used for residential outdoor water use, mainly for landscape irrigation, some 30 percent of total residential water use.
Sustainable residential landscape architecture¡ªif part of an , a comprehensive approach to sustainable building and site design¡ªcan dramatically reduce water usage while creating a healthy residential environment.
Homeowners can promote the infiltration, storing, and recycling of water, and limit the use of valuable potable water for landscapes. Bioswales / bioretention ponds, rainwater gardens, and local sustainable water recycling and drip irrigation systems can all be used to efficiently manage water. Homeowners can recycle and reuse greywater (and even blackwater) for landscape maintenance, car washing, and toilet flushing.
It's important to note that degraded and compacted soil will reduce water and air infiltration into the ground. Homeowners can maximize the benefits of natural stormwater systems by on their property though remediation techniques.
Homes that include natural green infrastructure not only better manage stormwater runoff, but also reduce the massive energy costs associated with running complex water management systems. Water and waste utilities are heavy users of energy and major producers of greenhouse gas emissions.
Local governments are also partnering with non-profit organizations to increase public awareness about using sustainable residential design practices for improving water efficiency.
Source: , Environmental Protection Agency
Bioswales and Bioretention Ponds
Rain Gardens
Rain Water Harvesting
Water Recycling
Drip Irrigation
This guide was written by Dana Davidsen and Jared Green.
Climate Change Resources:
Download Report:
Sustainable Planning and Design Guides:
Sustainable Residential Design Resource Guides:
Health and Well-Being:
Organizations
, Natural Resources Defense Council
, World Resources Institute
, Earth Institute, Columbia University
, Environmental Protection Agency
Research
¡°,¡± Laura Allen, Storey Publishing, 2015
¡°,¡± Environmental Protection Agency
¡°,¡± Environmental Protection Agency
Resources
, The Dirt, American Society of Landscape Architects
, The Dirt, American Society of Landscape Architects
Government Resources
, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
, U.S. Department of Energy
, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
, City of Vancouver
, City of Phoenix, Arizona
, City of Phoenix, Arizona
, New York Department of Environmental Protection
, Water Environment Research Foundation
, Environmental Protection Agency
, City of Portland, Oregon
, City of Seattle & King County, Washington
, SNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)
, City of Seattle
, Environmental Protection Agency
Projects
DBX Ranch, Pitkins County, CO
Design Workshop, Inc.
Santa Barbara, CA
Woody Creek Garden, Pitkin County, Colorado
Design Workshop, Inc., Aspen, Colorado
Vineyard Retreat, Napa Valley, California
Scott Lewis Landscape Architecture
Stephen Stimson Associates Landscape Architects
, Tucson, Arizona
Design Workshop, Inc.
If you know of useful resources we've missed, please send your recommendations to: info@asla.org